[Year 12 SofDev] Your homework!

Sun Oct 14 21:48:00 EST 2007

Hi Adrian!  I agree that a challenging algorithm fault is good for the 
kids.  It's just that the suggested answer was backwards :-)

Adrian Janson wrote:
> Hi everyone,
> 
> My question - I am afraid!  And I will gladly put up my hand and say 'Yes it
> is a badly written algorithm - but I designed it to be so!!'
> 
> I think the problem is really that I did too good a job in this regard and
> it is SO bad that is becomes a little unclear.
> 
> Part of the reason that the question is not explained is that I feel
> students need to be able to logically evaluate the function (or intended
> function) of an algorithm without being explicitly told what it is meant to
> do.
> 
> In this case, the user is first asked to enter to test marks.  The first
> test mark is checked to see if it is within the range 0-100.  If it is not,
> the user is asked to enter it again (note that this new entry is not
> likewise checked - which could be listed as one of the errors).  The second
> test mark is not checked at all (another error).  The total ranges do not
> take into account the value '100' exactly - another error.
> 
> Algorithms are traditionally done extremely badly and I don't think
> questions like this are a great problem as they force students to really
> think logically and critically.
> 
> Well - my 2c anyway!
> 
> Cheers,
> Adrian
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au]
> On Behalf Of Frank Van Den Boom
> Sent: Friday, 12 October 2007 1:14 PM
> To: Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List
> Subject: RE: [Year 12 SofDev] Your homework!
> 
> My kids did this trial paper this morning - this was not a good
> question. It would have been helpful if the question had a few words
> explaining what the algorithm was intended to do. There are any number
> of answers to this when it is this open.
> 
> Btw, I still thought this was a good trial paper - lots of other good
> questions. The case study was good though it had some similarities to
> last years EOY paper.
> 
> Frank 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au
> [mailto:sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Mark Kelly
> Sent: Friday, 12 October 2007 1:09 PM
> To: Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List
> Subject: [Year 12 SofDev] Your homework!
> 
> Refer to SD VITTA exam 2, Q10b - algorithm...
> 
> Module Print_marks
> Begin
>      Display heading
>      Enter Test_mark1
>      Enter Test_mark2
>      If Test_mark1 < 0 or Test_mark1 > 100
>          Display error message
>          End program
>      Else
>          Display prompt for user
>          Input Test_mark1
>      End if
>      Test_total <- Test_mark1 + Test_mark2
>      Case of Test_total
>      Case: Test_total > 100
>          Display 'S'
>      Case: Test_total >= 160
>          Display 'HD'
>      Case: Test_total < 100
>          Display 'F'
>      End Case
> End
> 
> Q10b. Under what circumstances will the user be asked to enter
> 'Test_mark1' again?
> 
> The suggested answer is "If test_mark1 is < 0 or > 100"
> 
> Can you spot something rather odd with this?
> Only 4 of my 13 kids did :-)
> 
> --
> Mark Kelly
> Manager - Information Systems
> McKinnon Secondary College
> McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia Direct line / Voicemail:
> 8520 9085 School Phone +613 8520 9000 School Fax +613 95789253 kel AT
> mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
> 
> Webmaster - http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au IT Lecture notes:
> http://vceit.com
> Moderator: IT Applications Mailing List
> 
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> 
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> _______________________________________________
> http://www.edulists.com.au
> IT Software Development Mailing List kindly supported by
> http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and
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> 

-- 
Mark Kelly
Manager - Information Systems
McKinnon Secondary College
McKinnon Rd, McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia
Direct line / Voicemail: 8520 9085
School Phone +613 8520 9000, Fax +613 95789253
kel AT mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au

Webmaster - http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
IT Lecture notes: http://vceit.com
Moderator: IT Applications Mailing List

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